Shaping & Construction Calculators
Calculate raglan decreases, sleeve shaping, necklines, armholes, and other garment construction details.
Raglan Calculator
Calculate raglan decrease rates and yoke depth for top-down or bottom-up construction.
Set-In Sleeve Calculator
Calculate sleeve cap shaping for set-in sleeve construction.
Neckline Calculator
Calculate neckline shaping for round, V-neck, and boat neck styles.
Armhole Calculator
Calculate armhole depth and bind-off shaping for fitted garments.
Shoulder Shaping Calculator
Calculate short-row or bind-off shoulder shaping steps.
Short Row Calculator
Calculate short row wraps and turns for bust darts and curved hems.
Dart Calculator
Calculate vertical or horizontal dart placement for fitted garments.
Hem Calculator
Calculate folded hem dimensions and stitch counts for a clean finish.
Collar Calculator
Calculate pick-up stitches and shaping for various collar styles.
Yoke Calculator
Calculate circular yoke increase rates and depth for seamless sweaters.
10 free calculators in Shaping & Construction
Garment Shaping Fundamentals
Shaping transforms flat knitted fabric into three-dimensional garments that fit the body. The mathematics of shaping involves calculating how many stitches to increase or decrease and over how many rows, to create smooth diagonal or curved lines in the fabric.
Raglan construction is one of the most popular methods for seamless sweater knitting. In a top-down raglan, you start at the neck and increase at four points every other row, creating diagonal lines from neck to underarm. The rate of increase determines the depth of the yoke and the width of the body and sleeves.
Set-in sleeves require more complex shaping with a shaped sleeve cap that must match the armhole curve. The sleeve cap typically involves binding off stitches, then decreasing gradually, then decreasing rapidly at the top. Getting this shaping right ensures the sleeve sits smoothly without puckering.
Neckline shaping varies by style: a crew neck typically uses about one-third of the front stitches, a V-neck starts decreasing at the armhole or earlier, and a boat neck simply binds off across the top. Short rows are used for shoulder shaping and bust darts, creating smooth curves without visible steps.